A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels, Volume 17 eBook

A VOYAGE TO THE SOUTH SEAS.

On Thursday the 18th of September, 1740, sailed from
St Hellens his majesty’s ship Centurion, Commodore
Anson, with the Gloucester, Pearl, Severn, Wager,
and Tryal, and two store-ships; this squadron was designed
round Cape-Horn into the South Seas, to distress the
Spaniards in those parts. The ships were all
in prime order, all lately rebuilt. The men were
elevated with hopes of growing immensely rich, and
in a few years of returning to Old England loaden
with the wealth of their enemies.

Saturday, the 20th, the Ram-head bearing N. by W.,
distant four leagues, the commodore hoisted his pendant,
and was saluted by every ship in the squadron, with
thirteen guns each. This day joined company with
us his majesty’s ships Dragon, Winchester, South-Sea-Castle,
and Rye-Galley, with a large convoy of merchant ships.

Thursday, the 25th, we parted company with the Winchester
and the South-Sea-Castle, with their convoys, bound
for America.

On Monday, we parted company with the Streights and
Turkey convoys.

Friday, October the 3d, at eight in the morning, we
saw two brigantines to the south-east; the commodore
gave a signal to chace, at nine fired two shots to
bring ’em to, at ten spoke with the chace, being
two brigs from Lisbon, bound for New York.

Sunday, the 26th, about five in the morning, the Severn
shewed lights, and fired several guns a-head; soon
after we saw the land bearing W. by S, and at noon
the east end of Madeira bore north, distant five leagues.

Wednesday, we moored in Fonchiale road, so called
from a city of that name, which is the metropolis
of the island of Madeira; here we employed most of
our time in getting aboard water, and stowing our dry
provisions between decks.

Tuesday, November the 4th, Captain Kidd our commander
was removed on board the Pearl, and the Honourable
Captain Murray succeeded him in the Wager. Captain
Norris of the Gloucester having obtained leave to return
to England, on account of his ill state of health,
occasioned the above removals.

While we lay at Madeira, we were informed of ten sail
of ships cruising off and on, to the westward, these
ships were judged to be French, and had been seen
every day for a week before our arrival: The commodore
sent out a privateer sloop, but she returned the day
following, without seeing ’em, so that we can
give no account of ’em.

On Wednesday, the 5th, we sailed, from Madeira.
On the 2Oth the Industry store-ship parted company,
and on Friday the 28th, by account, we crossed the
equinoctial.

On the 17th of December, we saw the island of St Catharine,
at noon, the northmost land in sight bore W.N.W.,
and the southmost S.W. by W. Variation per amplitude
12; 57 easterly.

On the 18th, the north end of the island of St Catharine
bore N.W. by W., distant seven leagues, and the island
of Gaul bore N.W., distant six leagues.